Internet Book of Shadows, (Various Authors), [1999], at sacred-texts.com

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| The Legend of the descent of the Goddess |
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Now our Lady the Goddess had never loved, but She would
solve all the Mysteries, even the Mystery of Death; and so
She journeyed to the Underworld.
The Guardians of the Portals challenged her: "Strip off
thy garments, lay aside thy jewels; for naught mayest thou
bring with the into this our land."
So She laid down her garments and her jewels, and was
bound, as are all who enter the Realms of Death, the Mighty
One.
Such was her beauty, that Death himself knelt and
kissed her feet, saying: "Blessed be thy feet, that have
brought thee in these ways. Abide with me; but let me place
my cold hand on thy heart."
She replied: "I love thee not. Why dost thou cause all
things that I love and take delight in to fade and die?"
"Lady," replied Death, "tis age and fate, against which
I am helpless. Age causes all things to wither; but when
men die at the end of time, I give them rest and peace, and
strength so that they may return. But thou! Thou art
lovely. Return not; abide with me!"
But She answered: "I love thee not."
Then said Death: "An thou receivest not my hand on thy
heart, thou must receive Death's scourge."
"It is fate - better so," She said. And She knelt, and
Death scourged her tenderly. And She cried, "I feel the
pangs of love."
And Death said, "Blessed Be!" and gave her the Fivefold
Kiss, saying: "Thus only mayest thou attain to joy and
knowledge." And he taught her all the Magicks.
For there are three great events in the life of man:
Love, Death, and Resurrection in the new body; and Magick
controls them all. For to fulfil love you must return again
at the same time and place as the loved one, and you must
remember and love them again. But to be reborn you must die
and be ready for a new body; and to die you must be born;
and without love you may not be born; and this is all the
Magicks.
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